Valverde: "It's a backward step"

Ernesto Valverde admitted that Sunday's 2-0 loss against RC Celta Vigo was a big blow, especially after recent positive results against Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite dominating the first half in Vigo, the Lions came undone after the restart, conceding two goals in ten minutes, whilst they also missed a penalty and hit the post late in the match.

“It's a backward step," Valverde said in his post-match press conference.

"We have two matches left until the end of the first half of the season and we need to pick up points.

"There is a lot of difference in level between all the teams in LaLiga. It is difficult to collect points and today we didn't take a step forward. We're not happy."

Although the gaffer is not overly worried about the Lions' general performances on the road so far this season, he is concerned about what he saw at the Abanca Balaídos.

He said: "In other away matches, I've thought the team performed well, even when we lost. Today, however, we did not play well, irrespective of the result.

"We didn't look dangerous. I don't think it will be something regular. It's not something that worries me, but we weren't direct enough today.

‘We had the ball, but we weren't really hurting them. We weren't clinical."